Putin: Gazprom probe caused by Eurozone problems, primarily in Eastern Europe

Vladivostok, Russia - The European Commission investigation concerning Gazprom stems from the grave situation in EU countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin believes.

"It was caused by several circumstances, primarily the grave economic situation in the Eurozone. Countries of Eastern Europe are in question first of all. As far as I can understand - and I have not been informed about the details of the developments, about the crux of the problem so far - all these countries were admitted the European Union in the past and the EU committed to subsidize their economies," he said at a press conference following the APEC summit.

"Now apparently someone on the European Commission decided that we must assume part of the burden of this subsidizing. I mean that unified Europe wants to maintain its political influence and that we should pay a little for that. But that is not a constructive approach," he said.